Featured Scholarships: February 2025

As we kick off February 2025, Scholarship America is featuring several generous and unique scholarship programs, including a new offering from TIAA for first-generation students; a program for U.S. armed forces veterans seeking careers in education; and a scholarship just for students in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Learn more about these programs below, and visit our Browse Scholarships listing to see all of our current and upcoming scholarship opportunities!

TIAA First-Generation Scholarship 

Students who obtain a bachelor’s degree make an average of 35% more income, but 80% of first-generation college students never complete their degree. That’s why TIAA is invested in helping those students today, to ensure a brighter retirement tomorrow. As they say:

“First-Generation college students face unique challenges that prevent them from graduating.

Navigating financial aid, registration, work, and networking for the first time can be daunting, especially if you feel like you’re doing it alone. That’s why we’ve partnered with several Non-Profits whose goals are to support and assist these First-Gen students in their journey to the finish line.

Getting students across the stage is how we #RetireInequality.”

As part of this initiative, TIAA is working with Scholarship America to offer the TIAA First-Generation Scholarship. If you’re in the first generation of your family to pursue a college degree, you may be eligible to apply for one of 15 scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

To apply, you must be a current college undergraduate whose parents/guardians have not previously graduated from a four-year college or university. You must also be planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the entire 2025-26 academic year. (Please note: high school seniors are NOT eligible to apply.)

Applications are open through February 28. Apply Now > 

Scholarship America Veteran Scholarship for Educators

Service doesn’t have to end when you take off your uniform. U.S. Armed Forces veterans who are dedicated to continuing their service by working in K-12 education can now apply for the Scholarship America Veteran Scholarship for Educators.

Scholarship Details

Up to 100 scholarships will be awarded to honorably discharged veterans pursuing degrees in eligible fields, including:

• Education
• Counseling
• Psychology
• Social Work

Recipients must plan to work within the K-12 schools system.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Provide proof of honorable discharge, such as a certificate or letter of eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs, DD214, or similar documentation. Be high school or GED graduates, current undergraduate students, or first-year graduate students.
• Enroll full-time in an undergraduate or graduate study for an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school for the entire academic year.
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Demonstrate financial need, which will be a key consideration in the selection process.

Award Amounts

• Recipients attending two-year or vocational-technical schools: $5,000 annually.
• Recipients attending four-year institutions: $10,000 annually.

Renewability

Awards are renewable for up to four years or until a bachelor’s or master’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, continent on:

• Satisfactory academic performance.
• Continued full-time enrollment in an eligible field of study.

Applications are open through February 6. Apply Now >

Lola G. Duff and William H. Duff, II Scholarship Program

High school seniors and graduates from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, can earn renewable scholarships up to $15,000 per academic year from the Lola G. Duff and William H. Duff, II Scholarship Program, open now for applications.

To apply, you must have attended at least two academic years, and graduated from, a high school or home school in Allegheny County, and plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study next academic year at an accredited four-year college or university. You must be pursuing an initial bachelor’s degree; finally, you’ll have to get an online recommendation and submit a letter from a clergyperson verifying that you are of the Protestant faith.

Two different types of awards are available through this program: financial need-based awards (which consider your family’s expected financial contribution to your education) and merit-based awards (which consider only your academic achievement). You can receive both types of awards in the same year, but you will have to fill out separate applications for each. All of the requirements listed above apply to both types of awards, and there’s a slight difference in GPA requirement: need-based applicants require a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 and merit-based applicants a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

For students who demonstrate financial need, award amounts will range from $4,000 to $15,000. For merit-based applicants, award amounts are $6,000/year at public schools or $12,000/year at private schools. Both types of awards can be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s degree is completed, whichever comes first, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements.

If you’re from Allegheny County, PA, this is an excellent and unique opportunity for a generous award!

PNC employees or Trust committee members, their immediate family members, and members of their households are not eligible to apply.

Applications are due March 4 at 3:00pm CT. Apply Now >